“Low bridge” layout

“I have sent a photograph (see right) of a bus which had an unfortunate mishap on October 17 1936 when it crashed through the wall of Taypark Hotel, Broughty Ferry,” writes Graham Martin-Bates of St Madoes.

“According to a report at the time, the driver was 26-year-old James Watt of 17 Woodlands Terrace, and he was injured. Presumably the passengers, if any were on board at the time, were uninjured.

“The fleet number is shown as R71 which allows us to work out that the bus was registered HF 5359 and had been acquired eight months earlier. It was a Leyland TD1 new in 1928 to Wallasey Corporation.

“It had been built to ‘low bridge’ layout meaning that upstairs the seats were arranged in lines of four with a sunken gangway at the side. This was to reduce the overall height.

“It is seen in the ownership of W. Alexander & Sons which became part of the large SMT group and would later become part of the the Scottish Bus Group. Evidence would suggest that Alexander converted this bus and others from petrol to diesel. R71 was repaired and continued to give service until 1948.

“In my retirement, I am volunteer archivist at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond, near Dunfermline. Any interested members of the public would be able to see examples of other ‘low bridge’ buses there.”

Another unfortunate incident involving vehicles. See left for details.

Letham reader Nan Wishart says: “We too were interested in your photographs of Morris 8 cars. This was our first car, bought for £175 in 1955. The picture was taken on the Lecht road on our first holiday together. The wee car needed a drink. Note my...